May 2023 - Gradstudents - mailman.cs.vt.edu

Jie Bu's Ph.D. defense [Feb 9 at 4 pm]
by Anuj Karpatne 02 Dec '24

02 Dec '24

Hello everyone, You are cordially invited to the final defense of PhD student Jie Bu on Thursday, Feb 9 at 4 pm. Zoom Link: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/5142223333 Title: Achieving More with Less: Learning Generalizable Neural Networks With Less Labeled Data and Computational Overheads Committee: Dr. Anuj Karpatne (advisor) Dr. Adrian Sandu Dr. Ismini Lourentzou Dr. Naren Ramakrishnan Dr. Anish Arora (from Ohio State University) Abstract: Recent advancements in deep learning have demonstrated its incredible ability to learn generalizable patterns and relationships automatically from data in a number of mainstream applications. However, the generalization power of deep learning methods largely comes at the costs of working with very large datasets and using highly compute-intensive models. Many applications cannot afford these costs needed to ensure generalizability of deep learning models. For instance, obtaining labeled data can be costly in scientific applications, and using large models may not be feasible in resource-constrained environments involving portable devices. This thesis aims to improve efficiency in machine learning by exploring different ways to learn generalizable neural networks that require less labeled data and computational resources. We demonstrate that using physics supervision in scientific problems can reduce the need for labeled data, thereby improving data efficiency without compromising model generalizability. Additionally, we investigate the potential of transfer learning powered by transformers in scientific applications as a promising direction for further improving data efficiency through domain adaptation. On the computational efficiency side, we present two efforts for increasing parameter efficiency of neural networks through novel architectures and structured network pruning. Thanks, -Anuj ------------------- Anuj Karpatne Assistant Professor Computer Science, Virginia Tech https://people.cs.vt.edu/karpatne/

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Room Available in Torgersen Hall for CS Graduate Students
by Mayo, Trey 29 Aug '23

29 Aug '23

A reminder for all that in spring 2022 we opened a room in Torgersen Hall available exclusively for CS Graduate Students. Torgersen Hall 3200 (TORG 3200) is located directly across from the CS Office of Graduate Programs (TORG 3210). Photos are attached. It provides space for students to meet as a group to work on projects or individuals who just need to a quiet place to study or hang out between classes. The room should not be used for personal/group meetings/parties or classes/tutoring sessions. It is not a reservable space. Access is available to any currently enrolled CS graduate student regardless of degree program or campus. Access to the room is controlled with your Hokie Passport (Student ID card). The room is available 24/7 as long as Torgersen Hall is open. If you have trouble accessing the room with your Hokie Passport, please visit the CS Office of Graduate Programs in TORG 3210 and we'll research the matter. (We believe we've resolved all previous access issues reported). Please note that this room is only for CS Graduate Students. If we find an abuse of the facilities, we will investigate and remove access. Please do your part as a responsible Hokie and help us keep the room clean and in good shape. We hope you enjoy. ============================================================== Trey Mayo, Ed.D. Director of Graduate Programs Virginia Tech | Department of Computer Science Torgersen Hall Suite 3210 620 Drillfield Drive (MC 0106) | Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-0780 | treymayo(a)vt.edu<mailto:treymayo@vt.edu> | http://cs.vt.edu<http://cs.vt.edu/>

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CS|SOURCE - EMPLOYER JOB POSTING
by Julia Costello 31 May '23

31 May '23

CS|SOURCE - EMPLOYER JOB POSTING A current opportunity is listed below. View other positions in <https://career.vt.edu/job-search/Handshake.html> Handshake. OPPORTUNITY 1 A position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (Blacksburg only) is open for "Remote Sensing in the Social Sciences". Deadline is Monday, June 5. Flyer attached. 2023 CORPORATE STAKEHOLDERS Julia Costello Strategic Partnership Coordinator Virginia Tech | College of Engineering | Department of Computer Science 2202 Kraft Drive | Blacksburg, VA 24060 540.250.6121 | <mailto:juliapc7@cs.vt.edu> juliapc7(a)cs.vt.edu CS|Source Website: <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcs.vt.edu %2Fcs-source.html&data=04%7C01%7Cgcaufman%40peraton.com%7C274bbb94bdea4a9c7b 0408d8e8aaee69%7C1c6258462b0a448383dde024820875b3%7C0%7C0%7C6375151681480464 16%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1ha WwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=VBHHIabAuZqQzfNpOVOGp0RpKf9LGzMs7qY3UNy3pm0%3 D&reserved=0> https://cs.vt.edu/cs-source.html Stay up to date on CS|Source job and event opportunities <https://cs.vt.edu/cs-source.html> CS|Source Website | <https://www.cs-source.cs.vt.edu/> CS|Source Portal | <https://twitter.com/vt_CS_Source> CS|Source on Twitter

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FW: GPSS advocacy training
by Sharon Kinder-Potter 30 May '23

30 May '23

Please see email below. Thanks, Sharon Sharon Kinder-Potter Graduate Program Coordinator Virginia Tech Department of Computer Science 3210 Torgersen Hall; (MC 0106) 620 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 540.231.6932/ <mailto:skpotter@vt.edu> skpotter(a)vt.edu <https://cs.vt.edu/> https://cs.vt.edu **BE COMMITTED. BE WELL** From: Rachel Maizel <maizer(a)vt.edu> Sent: Monday, May 29, 2023 12:30 PM To: undisclosed-recipients: Subject: GPSS advocacy training On Wednesday, May 31 from 6-7 pm, GPSS is hosting an Advocacy Training in preparation for the Board of Visitors meeting on June 5-6. Grad students will learn about the members of the BOV and how to advocate for change in a setting like the BOV meeting. Participants will leave the workshop confident and ready to advocate for grad student needs on June 5 and 6. Register for the workshop here: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdOCvqjkvHtEsWr8mtJRRI-DOk… The workshop will be hosted by Sheila Herlihy Hennessee from the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, who has many years of experience in community organizing across Virginia and lobbying for change with the Virginia General Assembly. Best regards, Rachel Maizel PhD Candidate | Department of Physics at Virginia Tech President | Graduate Professional Student Senate (GPSS)

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A PhD researcher position available in US Army Research Lab (US Citizen required)
by Jin-Hee Cho 26 May '23

26 May '23

Hello all, The Army Research Laboratory’s Network Security Branch is looking to fill a research position, a new PhD graduate or postdoc. US Citizen is required. If interested, please send your latest CV to Dr. Charles Kamhoua ( charles.a.kamhoua.civ(a)army.mil). Thanks! Jin-Hee ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jin-Hee Cho, Ph.D., IEEE Senior Member Associate Professor | Department of Computer Science Faculty Fellow | College of Engineering Affiliate Faculty | National Security Institute Virginia Tech 7054 Haycock Road Falls Church, VA 22043-2368 Email: jicho(a)vt.edu Phone: (703) 538-8302 Fax: (703) 538-8348 Homepage: http://people.cs.vt.edu/~jicho/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Melissa Cameron's M.Sc. Defense
by Dimitrios Nikolopoulos 24 May '23

24 May '23

Dear all, I invite you to attend Melissa Cameron's Master's thesis examination on Thursday, June 1 2023, at 11:00 am. The defense will take place over Zoom, with details listed below. Title: Parallel Islands: A Diversity Aware Tool For Parallel Computing Education Abstract: The rise in multiprocessors has led to the incorporation of parallel processing in virtually all segments of industry. Creation of and maintenance for the software to run these systems, as well as for the applications using these systems, requires extensive knowledge of the concepts and skills of parallel and distributed computing (PDC). This will naturally lead to an increase in the demand for software developers and an increase in the demand for universities to incorporate PDC concepts into their curricula. Because there is a perceived difficulty in teaching PDC concepts, particularly early in the Computer Science (CS) curriculum there is a need to produce educational materials to assist with this expansion. At the same time CS education is wrestling with the surge in the need for graduates with PDC skills, it is also attempting to overcome a deficiency in diversity in CS. The necessity to create the materials required for increasing PDC education provides an opportunity to make strides in increasing diversity in CS as well. Therefore Parallel Islands was created as a tool to aid in introducing PDC concepts in introductory CS courses in a manner that appeals to a wide diversity of students. Committee: Dimitrios S. Nikolopoulos (Chair) Margaret Ellis Chris North Dimitrios Nikolopoulos is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Mel Cameron M.Sc. Defense Time: Jun 1, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/5402314260 Meeting ID: 540 231 4260 One tap mobile +13017158592,,5402314260# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,5402314260# US Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 305 224 1968 US +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 931 3860 US +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) +1 689 278 1000 US +1 719 359 4580 US +1 253 205 0468 US +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 669 444 9171 US +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 540 231 4260 Find your local number: https://virginiatech.zoom.us/u/krCJZWzcy Join by SIP 5402314260(a)zoomcrc.com Join by H.323 162.255.37.11 (US West) 162.255.36.11 (US East) 221.122.88.195 (China) 115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai) 115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad) 213.19.144.110 (Amsterdam Netherlands) 213.244.140.110 (Germany) 103.122.166.55 (Australia Sydney) 103.122.167.55 (Australia Melbourne) 209.9.211.110 (Hong Kong SAR) 149.137.40.110 (Singapore) 64.211.144.160 (Brazil) 149.137.68.253 (Mexico) 69.174.57.160 (Canada Toronto) 65.39.152.160 (Canada Vancouver) 207.226.132.110 (Japan Tokyo) 149.137.24.110 (Japan Osaka) Meeting ID: 540 231 4260 Join by Skype for Business https://virginiatech.zoom.us/skype/5402314260 We are looking forward to seeing many of you there. -- Dimitrios S. Nikolopoulos John W. Hancock Professor of Engineering Professor, Department of Computer Science Professor (by courtesy), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Director, Stack@CS Center for Computer Systems Research dsn(a)vt.edu | x14260

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Graduate Office closed in Torgersen today
by Sharon Kinder-Potter 23 May '23

23 May '23

Graduate office closed today due to carpet being replaced in the hallway on our floor. We are working off campus at 2202 Knowledge Works building on the first floor down the steps. If you need to get in contact with me you can email me or call. If you have an appointment with me you can come here at Knowledge Works building. Thanks, Sharon

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sharing a short article about writing rebuttals
by Daphne Yao 21 May '23

21 May '23

Morning everyone! Upon popular demand, I wrote a short article about writing rebuttals, titled "*Rebuttal How-to: Strategies, Tactics, and the Big Picture in Research*". Hope it is helpful for junior researchers. The PDF is available here <https://people.cs.vt.edu/~danfeng/papers/Yao-Rebuttal-Howto.pdf>. I will give a long presentation about it at the iMentor Workshop <https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/imentor> at ACM CCS 2023 in November. Best, Daphne Yao Professor Elizabeth and James E. Turner Jr. '56 Faculty Fellow CACI Faculty Fellow Department of computer science Virginia Tech http://yaogroup.cs.vt.edu/ https://twitter.com/yaogroup1

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[MS/PhD Students] SAR Evaluations have been sent out
by Cliff Shaffer 20 May '23

20 May '23

All MS and PhD students should now have received evaluations via email from your advisor and from me. Most typically, my comments relate to the various milestones (plan of study, PhD qualifier, PhD prelim) -- either to remind you that something is due or laying out the expected schedule depending on where you are in the program. If you did not receive email with one or the other of the reviews, you can check on them at https://gpc.cs.vt.edu/#/statusstudent (click on the last link on the page). I hope that you find these useful! Some FAQs: *Can I update my SAR?* Yes, please do if you have more information! The most common missing information relates to publications. This is pretty important to us that we have an accurate reporting of your publications. Please make sure that your entries are correct with respect to "submitted" "accepted" "published" status. Please make sure that they are complete in terms of authors (in the order they appear in the publication), title, year, venue (journal or conference name, location for conference), date or issue number, and page number or length. We will try for next year to include more form fields for some of this, especially for the paper type (poster, short or long, peer reviewed, etc). *Can I change my overall "score"? (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, etc)* Depends on why your score is lower than you would like. To the extent it is an assessment of your past year's performance, that probably cannot change. If it reflects being late on milestones, then completing those might change the score. In particular, I typically give the same score that the advisor gave. In cases where I did not, the most frequent reason is because of late milestones (Plan of Study not submitted, qualifier paperwork not turned in). If it is simply a matter of coming up to date on paperwork, that is the most likely reason to change a score. In some cases, you got a poor score because the information that you gave me (your SAR) was not a true reflection of your accomplishments. Possibly fixing your SAR can justify a better score. -- Dr. Cliff Shaffer Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science Phone: (540) 231-4354 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 WWW: www.cs.vt.edu/~shaffer

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Fwd: Data Science for All / Women - 2023 Program Launch
by Mohammed Seyam 15 May '23

15 May '23

---------- Forwarded message --------- My name is Beatrice and I am part of the team working on* Data Science for All / Women* <https://www.correlation-one.com/data-science-for-all-women?utm_source=amb&u…>, a data training fellowship program for top researchers, students, and young professionals. Each year, we invite 200+ women from the world’s top universities and research institutes, and provide them with industry training, resources, and an influential network of industry mentors. The curriculum teaches data skills through real business cases using actual datasets and provides valuable mentorship and networking opportunities. The program itself is entirely free, including the application, and by invite-only. Ultimately, our goal is to help them launch their careers with a powerful industry support structure, and develop into the next generation of data-driven leaders. The application deadline had recently been extended and I'd love to make sure that Virginia Tech students have an opportunity to participate in our program. Program details are below, it would be great if you could share with students! Please let me know if you have any questions. Happy to have a quick call if anything is unclear. Thanks, Beatrice *Program details* The DS4A / Women program is designed to help female students and professionals develop into data-driven leaders of tomorrow. It is a free program that provides world-class technical training, professional development workshops, mentorship from senior leaders, competitive employment opportunities, and the opportunity to build your network of data-driven peers and leading organizations. *When*: June - July 2023 (full schedule *here* <https://www.correlation-one.com/data-science-for-all-women?utm_source=amb&u…> ) *Where*: Virtual *Who*: Open to PhD and Master’s students who are graduating from academia and looking to transition into industry. Relevant fields include Computer Science, Math, Applied Math, Engineering, Financial Engineering, Statistics, Quantitative Finance, Data Analytics, Data Science, among other quantitative fields. *Cost*: Free, by application only *How to Apply: **Apply Here!* <https://www.correlation-one.com/data-science-for-all-women?utm_source=amb&u…> *Deadline*: May 21, 2023. The deadline is fast approaching so we encourage students to apply as early as possible as our Admissions Committee works on a rolling basis. If you'd like to find out more information about the program or sign up for the DS4A / Women program, please visit our* website* <https://www.correlation-one.com/data-science-for-all-women?utm_source=amb&u…>. If you know someone else who might benefit from this event, feel free to pass this link and information along! -- Beatrice Khoo Business Development Manager Correlation One <https://www.correlation-one.com/> 200 West 41st Street New York, NY 10036 -- *Mohammed Seyam <https://website.cs.vt.edu/people/faculty/mohammed-seyam.html>, *PhD Collegiate Assistant Professor Coordinator for Experiential Learning <https://xl.vt.edu/> Department of Computer Science <http://cs.vt.edu/> Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VirginiaTech <http://www.vt.edu/>). Website <http://people.cs.vt.edu/seyam>|LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/msseyam/> | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/MSSeyam>

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